Garage with auxiliary storage means for boats and the like

ABSTRACT

A garage structure defining a lower portion arranged to house an automotive vehicle and an upper loft space. The lower portion is defined by an upper ceiling structure provided with means defining an opening adapted to pass therethrough a structure intended to be stored in the loft space. Means are carried on the roof structure of the garage for selectively raising and lowering the structure intended to be stored in the loft space and means are provided for securing the structure intended to be stored in the storage disposition.

United States Patent Inventor Julius H. Henderson I 1013 Justine Drive,Kankakee, lll. 60901 821,323

May 2, 1969 Jan. 19, 1971 Appl. No. Filed Patented GARAGE WITH AUXILIARYSTORAGE MEANS FOR BOATS AND THE LIKE 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 214/16, 52/27; 214/16 1 Int. Cl E04h 14/00 Field of Search 214/l 6,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 926,366 6/l909 Thompson 214/163,385,458 5/1968 Gresham 2l4/l6.4(2)

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-George F. AbrahamAttorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman and McCord ABSTRACT: A garagestructure defining a lower portion ar ranged to house an automotivevehicle and an upper loft space. The lower portion is defined by anupper ceiling structure provided with means defining an opening adaptedto pass therethrough a structure intended to be stored in the loftspace. Means are carried on the roof structure of the garage forselectively raising and lowering the structure intended to be stored inthe loft space and means are provided for securing the structureintended to be stored in the storage disposition.

PATENTEI] JAN] 9 IBTI SHEET 2 OF 4 PATENTEU JAN 1 9 I97! SHEET 3 BF 4GARAGE wlrrr AUXILIARY STORAGE MEANS FOR t nous AND TIIE use BACKGROUNDor THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates tostorage structures and in particular to garage structures and the likefor storing relatively large structures such as automobiles.

2. Description of the Prior Art 7 In the conventional garage structure;the lower portion thereof is arranged to house automotive vehicles andthe like.

The conventional garage structure is pr'ovided with a ceiling portionoverlying the lower vehicle storage space and serving to tie togetherthe upright sidewalls of the garage structure. A roof .is conventionallyprovided spaced above the ceiling whereby the roof and ceilingcooperatively define a loft space.

Such a loft space is utilized from time to time for storage of 1objects, materials, and the like, resting on the ceiling joists and incertain instances, the ceiling is provided with an upper floor for moreefficient storage. I

An increasing number of people who own such automotive vehicles andgarages also own other relatively large structures which must be storedfrom time to time. lllustratively, such additional structures maycomprise boats, snowmobiles, riding mowers, small tractors, go-carts,and-the like. Thestorage of such relatively large structures presents avexatious problem 2 j BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other featuresand advantages of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTIn the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in thedrawings, a storage structure l0..herein comprising a 7 garage, is shownto include a plurality of upright sidewalls ll and an overlying roof 12. In illustrating the invention, the roof as it is undesirable toutilize the valuable'automobile storage space for-these additionalstructures. Thus,- often additional sheds are provided ortheadditional'structuresare allowed to remain outdoors undertarpaulinsand the like during the times of nonuse. I i

SUMMARY-OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improvedgarage structure adapted to accommodate,in addition to the automotivevehicles in the lower portion thereof, the storage of such otherrelatively large structures in the loft space. The garage structure isarranged to provide for such storage in a facilitated mannerpermittingthe stored structures to be reaclily. made available for use whendesired while yet normally providing for storage thereof in sucha mannerasto provide substantially full normal use of .the lower garage space,

Thus, the inventioncomprehends the provision in the ceiI ing structureof,the garage of means defining an opening adapted to pass the structureintended to be stored upwardly into the loft spacefor storage therein.Means are provided on the roof structure for selectively raising andlowering the structure intended to be stored and means are provided forreleasably securing the structure intended to be stored in a storagedisposition in the loft space. Thus, a relatively large structure, suchas a boat or tractor, may be readily stored in the loft space by simplyraising it form the floor of the garage upwardly through the preformedopening in the ceiling and securing the stored structure in the raisedposition.

The invention comprehends the provision of reinforcing means in thegarage structure for transferring the forces generated by the weight ofthe stored structure to the sidewalls while effectively precludingoutward displacement thereof due to the increased weight acting thereon.The raising and lowering means may comprise a hand operated, or motoroperated hoist as desired. The securing means may comprise straps, orthe like, for effectively positively securing the stored structure inthe loft space. If desired, the stored structure may be positioned so asto permit a portion thereof to extend downwardly into the lower space ofthe garage below the level of the ceiling. In the illustratedembodiment, the ceiling opening is provided at the center of the garagefor utilization of the maximum heightof the loft space as in aconventional garage structure herein the ridge beam is disposed at thecenter of the garage. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art,modifications of the garage structure incorporating the broad concept ofthe ceiling storage opening and means for retaining the stored structurein the loft space in alignment with the opening may be used within thescope of the invention.

structure is shown as a gabled roof structure. it being understood thatother suitable roof arrangements, such as hip roof structures, may beemployed as desired. Illustratively, the sidewalls 11 may includesuitable windows 13 and front opening 14 selectively closable as by aconventional overhead door 15. "The garage is further defined by aceiling structure generally designated 16 which overlies the lowerautomotive vehicle storage space 17 and which cooperates with the roof12 to define an upper loft space 18.

In illustrating the invention. the garage is shown to comprise a two-cargarage wherein two automotive vehicles 19 and20 may be garaged in thenormal side-by-side' manner in the Iowervehicle storage space 17. Asshown in FIG. 2, the ceiling comprises a plurality ofjoists 2lca'rriedat their opposite ends on the top plate 22 of the sidewalls 11 wherebythe joists tie the sidewalls together against outward displacement byforces acting downwardly on roof 12. The roof structure may furtherinclude bracing 23 including diagonal braces 24 and box braces 25 forstiffening the structure. The roof may be provided with an outer sheath26 of conventional construction to close the top of the garage structurein' the conventional manner. The roof may include a ridge beam 27extending lengthwise of the garage at the top of the roof in theconventional manner. i I

As indicated briefly above, the invention comprehends the provision ofmeans defining an opening in the ceiling structure 16 for accommodatingthe passage of a structure intended to be stored in the loft space 18.Thus, as best seen in FIGS. 1

and 2, the ceiling structure is provided with a frame 28 defining anopening 29in the ceiling structurelfi. In the illustrated embodiment,the opening 29 is intended to receivea relatively large structure, suchas a 'boat, 30. The boat may be lifted through the opening 29 into theloft space 18 by a suitable pulley 31 carried on the ridge beam 27. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the pulley 3i comprises a hand operatedhoisting means. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, ifdesired, the hoisting means may comprise a motor operated means (notshown) or other suitable lifting devices as desired.

The means for supporting the structureto be stored 30 may furtherinclude straps 32 extending under the structure 30 and carried by asupport beam 33 to which-the pulley 31 is connected by suitable cables34. The structure 30 may be secured in the storage position by suitablesecuring means. such as cleat 35 carried on the frame 28 around whichthe lower free end 36 of the pulley cable '34 may be wrapped. Othersuitable means for securing the structure 30 may be employed, such asadditional fixed straps extending under the structure, etc. If desired,the structure30 may be stored fully above the level of the ceilingstructure 16 or, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the structure 30 may beraised sufficiently to provide desired clearance in the lower vehiclestorage space 17 while yet projecting downwardly below the level ofceiling 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 29 is disposed along thelongitudinal centerline of the garage defined by the ridge beam 27thereby providing for the storage of the structure 30 at the highestportion of the roof. As shown in FIG. 4. the opening 29 may be providedsomewhat toward the rear ofthe garage as desired.

Ceiling opening frame 28 comprises a rectangular box structure which isset into the joists 21 as shown in FIG. 1. The garage structure isreinforced by a plurality of diagonals 37 laid on the joists fortransmitting horizontal forces from the frame 28 to the top plate 22.The diagonal braces 24 further transfer forces from the framework to therafters of roof 12. The end walls may be tied together by stringers 38extending the length of the garage and tied to the end box braces 25 asbest seen in FIG. 2. The garage structure may be provided withconventional fore-and-aft diagonal bracing 39, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus,the forces generated by the weight of the structure being stored aretransferred from the ridge beam 27 to the sidewalls ll of the garage andthe ceiling 16 is reinforced by the diagonals and longitudinal stringersto provide a rigid garage structure while yet accommodating the improvedstorage means. As will be obvious to those skilled in the an. othermethods of reinforcing the garage structure to accommodate the opening29 may be employed as desired.

Thus, in utilizing garage structure 10, the user need merely bring thestructure to be stored in the loft space 18, such as boat 30, to aposition underlying the opening 29 on the garage floor 40. Where thestructure. comprises a boat as shown in the drawings, the user providessuitable strap means 32 and support beam 33 for attachment to the hoist.or pulley, structure 31. 34. The boat structure 30 is then raised bysuitable manipulation of the pulley to bring the boat structure 30upwardly through opening 29 into the loft space 18. When the structure30 is raised to the desired point, which may be fully within the loftspace above the level of ceiling 16, or partially within the level ofthe space with the bottom portion thereof extending downwardly into theupper portion of the lower space 17 as shown in H6. 2, the user maysecure the structure 30 in the storage position as by securing the cableend 36 to the cleat 35 as shown in FIG. 2.

Structure 30 may be allowed to remain in the storage position asdesired, such as over winter. Free access to the automotive vehiclestorage space 17 is had at all times as the structure 30 is effectivelydisposed above the storage area 17. When, however, it is desired toremove the structure 30 from storage, the user merely releases the cableend 36 from the cleat 35. lowers the structure 30. as'ontoa suitabletrailer (not shown). permitting the structure then to be removed fromthe garage as desired. I

By virtue of the improved reinforccme'ntof the garage effected by thereinforcing diagonals and stringers, the garage may be arranged tosupport and store for protracted periods of time structures ofsubstantial weight without deformation of the garage structure.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

lclaim:

1. In a garage structure defining a lower portion arranged to house anautomotive vehicle, said structure including an upper portion defined bya ceiling structure overlying said lower portion, and a roof structurespaced above said ceiling structure and defining therewith a loft space.auxiliary storage means comprising:

means defining an opening in said ceiling structure having a preselectedhorizontal cross section adapted to pass a structure intended to bestored in said loft space;

means carried by said roof structure for selectively raising andlowering said structure intended to be stored through said opening forselective storage thereof in a storage disposition in said loft space inalignment with said opening; and

means for'releasably securing said last structure intended to be storedin said storage disposition.

2. The garage structure means of claim 1 wherein said securing meanscomprises means for locking said raising and lowering means. I

3. The garage structure means of claim 1 wherein said means for raisingand lowering said structure means comprises straps secured to saidgarage structure and extending under said structure to be stored.

4. The garage structure means of claim 1 wherein said securing means isarranged to retain said structure to be stored with a portion thereofdisposed below the level of said ceiling structure.

5. The garage structure means of claim 1 wherein said garage roofstructure includes a ridge beam and said raising and lowering means iscarried by said ridge beam.

6. The garage structure means of claim 1 wherein said structure to bestored comprises a boat.

1. In a garage structure defining a lower portion arranged to house anautomotive vehicle, said structure including an upper portion defined bya ceiling structure overlying said lower portion, and a roof structurespaced above said ceiling structure and defining therewith a loft space,auxiliary storage means comprising: means defining an opening in saidceiling structure having a preselected horizontal cross section adaptedto pass a structure intended to be stored in said loft space; meanscarried by said roof structure for selectively raising and lowering saidstructure intended to be stored through said opening for selectivestorage thereof in a storage disposition in said loft space in alignmentwith said opening; and means for releasably securing said last structureintended to be stored in said storage disposition.
 2. The garagestructure means of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises meansfor locking said raising and lowering means.
 3. The garage structuremeans of claim 1 wherein said means for raising and lowering saidstructure means comprises straps secured to said garage structure andextending under said structure to be stored.
 4. The garage structuremeans of claim 1 wherein said securing means is arranged to retain saidstructure to be stored with a portion thereof disposed below the levelof said ceiling structure.
 5. The garage structure means of claim 1wherein said garage roof structure includes a ridge beam and saidraising and lowering means is carried by said ridge beam.
 6. The garagestructure means of claim 1 wherein said structure to be stored comprisesa boat.